A27004:1012
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Obj. But it is no mercy, which hardeneth them in sin, and endeth in misery: It is rather a punishment; as to give cold water to a man in a Fever.
Obj. But it is no mercy, which hardeneth them in sin, and endeth in misery: It is rather a punishment; as to give cold water to a man in a Feaver.
Answ. 1. If it hardened them of its own nature, and not merely by their abuse, and if it ended in misery by the designment of the Giver and the tendency of the gift, then were it as you say, no mercy but a Plague. But it is Mercy which in its nature and by the Donors will, hath a fitness and tendency to mens recovery, and to prevent their misery, ⟨p. 183⟩and they are commanded and entreated accordingly to use it; and are warned of the danger of abuse.
Answ. 1. If it hardened them of its own nature, and not meerly by their abuse, and if it ended in misery by the designment of the Giver and the tendency of the gift, then were it as you say, no mercy but a Plague. But it is Mercy which in its nature and by the Donors will, hath a fitness and tendency to mens recovery, and to prevent their misery, ⟨p. 183⟩and they are commanded and intreated accordingly to use it; and are warned of the danger of abuse.
Obj. But God knoweth when he giveth it them, that they will so abuse it.